Royal Hunt is a Danish progressive metal band. The band was founded in 1989 by keyboardist André Andersen in order to combine basic values of classic rock with progressive, current musical elements.[1] The name originated from a painting seen in a museum by Andersen.[2]
Royal Hunt | |
|---|---|
 Royal Hunt performing in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | NorthPoint, Kick, Steamhammer, Semaphore, Magna Carta, Scarlet Frontiers |
| Members | André Andersen D. C. Cooper Andreas Passmark Jonas Larsen Andreas "Habo" Johansson |
| Past members | Marcus Jidell John West Mark Boals Henrik Brockmann Steen Mogensen Jacob Kjaer Kenneth Olsen Per Schelander Allan Sørensen |
| Website | royalhunt |
History
editRoyal Hunt is known for creating melodic music with a progressive and symphonic flair. They experienced success during the mid-90s with American vocalist[3] D.C. Cooper on their albums Moving Target and Paradox mainly in Japan and Europe.
Throughout their history the band has experienced several lineup changes. In 2007 they acquired singer Mark Boals, who replaced former vocalist John West. In 2011 after numerous requests from fans and promoters worldwide they decided to reunite with their former vocalist D. C. Cooper for a special tour, covering the first four albums of the band. They recorded a new album entitled Show Me How to Live featuring the returning D.C. Cooper as their permanent vocalist moving forward. Cooper also provided vocals for the 2013 album, A Life to Die For, and again provided vocals on "Devil's Dozen", "Cast In Stone" and "Dystopia – Part 1".[4]
In October 2021, the group announced the completion of songwriting for the new album – "Dystopia – Part 2".[5] The album will be released on 28 October 2022.[6]
For festival appearances in 2024, the band are scheduled to perform with a line-up including their former lead vocalist Mark Boals and Statement's drummer Daniel Rasch Nielsen. Boals and Nielsen are temporarily covering for Cooper and Johansson due to the latter's scheduling conflicts. The Boals/Nielsen-incorporating lineup will play at Leyendas Del Rock in Spain on August 7 and at Jailbreak Festival in Denmark on August 17.[7]
In Japan, the band is famous for the song Martial Arts, which was used as entrance music for professional wrestler Masahiro Chono.[8][9]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit- Land of Broken Hearts (1992)
- Clown in the Mirror (1994)
- Moving Target (1995)
- Paradox (1997)
- Fear (1999)
- The Mission (2001)
- Eyewitness (2003)
- Paper Blood (2005)
- Collision Course... Paradox 2 (2008)
- X (2010)
- Show Me How to Live (2011)
- A Life to Die For (2013)
- Devil's Dozen (2015)[10]
- Cast in Stone (2018)
- Dystopia (2020)
- Dystopia – Part II (2022)
Live albums
edit- 1996 (1996)
- Closing the Chapter (1998)
- Double Live in Japan (1999)
- 2006 Live (2006)
- Cargo (Live) (2016)
- 2016 Live (2017)
Singles/EPs
edit- The Maxi – Single (1994)
- Far Away (EP) (1995)
- "Message to God" (1997)
- Intervention (2000)
Compilations
edit- The First 4 Chapters... and More (Japan release) (1998)
- The Best (Japan release) (1998)
- The Best Live (Japan release) (1998)
- On the Mission 2002 (Japan release) (2002)
- Heart of the City (Best of 1992–1999) (2012)
- 20th Anniversary (2012)[11]
Members
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- André Andersen – keyboards, piano, keytar, rhythm guitar (1989–present)
- D. C. Cooper – lead vocals (1994–1999, 2011–present)
- Andreas Passmark – bass (2009–present)
- Jonas Larsen – lead guitar (2011–present)
- Andreas "Habo" Johansson – drums (2015–present)
Former members
edit- Steen Mogensen – bass (1989–2003)
- Kenneth Olsen – drums (1989–1996; 2004–2007)
- Henrik Brockmann – vocals (1989–1994)
- Jacob Kjaer – lead guitar (1993–2003)
- Allan Sørensen – drums (1996–2002; 2007–2015)
- John West – vocals (1999–2007)
- Allan Tschicaja – session drums (2002–2004)
- Marcus Jidell – lead guitar, cello (2004–2011)[12]
- Per Schelander – bass (2005–2009) (Covered for Andreas Passmark during parts of the tour 2015 and during the tour 2016)
- Mark Boals – vocals (2007–2011, 2024 (festival appearances only))
Timeline
edit
References
edit- ^ "Royal Hunt – Prog Archives". progarchives.com.
- ^ "Royal Hunt – Metal Archives". metal-archives.com.
- ^ "Going The Distance – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". post-gazette.com/.
- ^ "André Andersen (Royal Hunt): "It's easy to write music for an exciting story!"". suleyera.com/.
- ^ "ROYAL HUNT – SONGWRITING COMPLETED FOR NEW ALBUM – YouTube". bravewords.com//.
- ^ "ROYAL HUNT To Release Dystopia – Part II Album In October". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 18 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ Royal Hunt Announces Exclusive Festival Performances Featuring Mark Boals and Daniel Rasch Nielsen Later This Summer" - article in Toxic Metal Zine by Jason Hesley, 26 July 2024
- ^ "Crash – YouTube". youtube.com/.
- ^ "蝶野正洋". wanweibaike.net/.
- ^ "Home Page News". Royalhunt.com. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ^ "Royal Hunt – Preparing To Release 20th Anniversary Compilation – Metal Storm". Metalstorm.net.
- ^ "Royal Hunt – Metal Storm". Metalstorm.net.
External links
edit
